Pats-Colts Lovefest

A few thoughts on the game yesterday...

It was far from the best playoff game ever, as people are trying so hard to argue for.  Those people should have their testicles fed through a cotton gin.  It was an undeniable classic, and definitely one of the better games I've ever seen, but I think what's really going on is that the game was As Advertised... which is about as rare as a hook-and-ladder play.  So a playoff actually lives up to its hype, and everyone gets so excited by the game's effect that they overestimate the game's quality.  In other words, enjoying the happy ending means more, in this case, than watching the game unfold.

Yes, I said happy ending.  I'm actually happy, even though the Pats lost.  There's plenty of reasons for me to be bullshit right now, but I'm not feeling them.  How could a Red Sox fan like me not sympathize with what we just saw?  The Pats didn't blow the game as much as the Colts refused to let the Pats wrestle the game away.  The Colts earned every inch of it, and tore their reputation to shreds in the process.  It even seemed that they'd learned a lesson from the Patriots, and ultimately beat them at their own game.  They tried, failed, learned, and succeeded.  The better team clearly won.  Who couldn't respect that?  The proteges took down the master.  If the Pats were gonna lose, that's the way to go down.  I'm almost proud, for God's sake.  I want to run out and buy a flag or something.

But seriously, America's a better place now that the Colts aren't chokers anymore, don't you think?  One fewer tale of woe, and one more tale of perseverance leading to success.  And I don't despise Tony Dungy or Peyton Manning enough to wish Dan Marino Disease on them... I don't wish them ill.   I think they have to be the sentimental favorites.  Dungy in particular seems like a good guy who never deserved the reputation he acquired.  Manning's still a big dork, but all the Peyton Hatin' from Patriot Nation was the result of his lack of clutchiness.  In my opinion, no choking = no reason to pick on him.  I feel bad for anyone who can't own up to that.  My point is that neither of them is a particularly evil person.  This is not Shawne Merriman going to the Super Bowl.  This is a couple of hard-luck guys who seem to have finally figured it all out.  And I'm happy for them.

As for the Patriots, I'm still pleasantly surprised by their run.  They got way further than they deserved to get, given their secondary and their receivers.  (All praise be to St. Marty.  Amen.)  They had a great year, proving that the franchise is still alive and well, and there is no shame in having lost when they did.  Not that the loss wasn't avoidable (does anyone think Deion Branch wouldn't have bailed out Tom Brady on a couple of those third-and-longs?) but there's definitely no hard feelings from my end of things.  It's a good note to end on.

This is also as good a time as any to appreciate just how special Tom Brady is, and how far he's brought this franchise in just six seasons.  His presence is a gift that I certainly don't appreciate as much as I probably should.  It's partly because he's set the standard so impossibly high, but even a half-assed Brady performance like last week is better than the best we'll ever see from lots of NFL quarterbacks.  It's days like yesterday, where a nearly perfect performance wasn't enough to get it done, that make you realize how amazing Brady's performances have been.  So here's to Tom Brady.  He may not be immortal, but even Larry Bird lost to the Lakers more often than not.

I imagine that there will be plenty of stories out there trumpeting the death of the dynasty after last night, but they aren't dead yet.  This team is in phenomenal shape for next season, given its short and tidy offseason to-do list:

1) Keep Samuel, or bring in a viable #1 corner to replace him.  They have the money for it.  No excuses.
2) Find a middle linebacker.  Whoever's available that can play the two-gap and plug the run, sign his ass up.
3) Then draft another one.  Grab the top guy on the board.  Trade up to get him if necessary.
4) Seriously.  Find a wide receiver.  No more retreads.  Again, they have the money.
5) Maybe a punter who's not 'roided up and shitfaced on gameday?

That appears to be it.  Just a couple linebackers, one corner and one receiver.  And health.  This is hardly cause for wailing and/or gnashing of teeth by anyone.